Crepeau brothers a big hit for Biddeford baseball

BIDDEFORD — Kerry and Brady Crepeau came well prepared for their first year of varsity baseball with the Biddeford Tigers.

The brothers have a batting cage, a pitching machine and a whiffle ball field at their home.

Additional Photos

Biddeford’s Corey Creeger collides with Sanford’s Eddie Michetti during a play at second base Tuesday. Michetti was tagged out on the play. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

“Having a batting cage gets us more reps. We hit all the time,” said Kerry, a sophomore infielder.

The Crepeaus were front and center as the Tigers captured their fifth straight game with a 4-1 win over Sanford Tuesday in an SMAA baseball game at St. Louis Field.

Brady, a freshman, was the starting pitcher and went the distance, allowing six hits and walking only two as he improved his record to 3-0. He drove home the final run with a double to the center-field fence against the wind. He also scored a run. Kerry had two hits, including an RBI single in the fifth.

After being no-hit by South Portland in a five-inning 10-0 loss two weeks ago, Biddeford (9-2) has gotten hot, with a stretch that includes wins over Portland and Westbrook.

“Basically, it’s been timely hits and good defense,” said Kerry.

“It was kind of embarrassing losing at home to South Portland the way we did. He was a good pitcher, but we’ve adapted facing other pitchers. We know what to swing at,” he said.

His brother added “good pitching” as a reason for the streak that had the Tigers ranked second in the Heal point standings going into Tuesday’s game.

Brady, a left-hander, walked the first batter he faced, but then picked him off. His wildness continued against the next batter, Xavier Chase, who eventually reached on an infield hit, but the Tigers turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

“I struggled early with my control. I adjusted my footing and how I was releasing the ball,” Brady said.

Biddeford got the early cushion it needed in the second when Randy Vadnais dropped a single just inside the left-field line, scoring Corey Brown and Brady to make it 2-0.

“Getting that two-out single by Randy was big,” said Coach Keith LeBlanc. “We’ve talked about getting the job done with runners in scoring position. We didn’t have a big inning, but the kids did a nice job of chipping away.”

The 2-0 lead eased some of the weight from Brady’s shoulders.

“I could focus on the pitches and not have to worry about giving up a run because I had support from my hitters,” he said.

Brady made one mistake in the top of the fourth when he hung a curveball to Jed Scott, a left-handed hitter, who deposited the pitch high over the right-field fence.

The Tigers got the run back in the fifth on Kerry’s line drive to left. Biddeford made it 4-1 in the sixth when Nate Huot singled up the middle and scored on Brady’s double.

Sanford (4-5) got two runners on with one out in the top of the fifth, but failed to score as Brady caught another runner with 1-3-6 pickoff.

The Spartans hit two rocket line drives to start the sixth. The first one was caught by Casey Twomey at third while the second was knocked down by Huot at first who tossed to Brady covering the bag.

“Brady did a very nice job,” said LeBlanc. “He has a lot of confidence and poise. He isn’t overpowering. He’s a smart pitcher who uses both sides of the plate, changes speed well and uses good movement. Brady has been showing all year that he can play at this level.”

Brady was pitching in middle school last season while Kerry played for the freshmen team.

“I knew what Brady could do coming into the season,” said LeBlanc.

“We have a Junior Legion team in Biddeford and I’ve watched Brady and Kerry play. I run the Senior Legion team and Kerry played for me last summer. They have a great facility at home, better than a lot of other people,” he said.

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